Locking-chain for automobiles.



W. J. REYNOLDS. LOCKING CHAIN FOR AUToMoILEs.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15.1913.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914 wlTNEssl-:s mfg/ZOMSJINVENTOR ATTORNEY UmTED sTAirnsrfAirEN'r OFFICE.

WALTER J'. REYNOLDS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

LOCKING-CHAIN FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Tb all it may concern Bte 1t known that I, WALTER J. REYNOLDS, a c1tize1i of` the United States, residing at AProvidence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Locking-Chain for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in locking chains for automobiles and its object is to provide a chain of requisite strength and flexibility and yet of sufficient stiffness to permit certain manipulations of the chain.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a chain of ap ropriate length and strength to permit it to iie passed through relatively fixed and relativelv movable parts of an automobile running gear, so that when the ends of the chain are secured together, as by a lock, the vehicle can not be moverA to any material extent. Such a chain is not at all uncommon, but chains are veia flexible and it is often difiieult to pass the chains through somewhat devious paths in order to cause them to embrace the parts to be lock d, and it is usually necessary to reach throug parts of the machine to an extent often causin soiling of the clothing of the operator. ll oreover, an ordinary chain is lia'ble to mar the vehicle and oftentimes thereby do material damage.

In accordance with the, present invention the chain is covered by a` close-fitting sheath hugging the chain sufficiently tight to render the highly flexible chain more or less still', wherefore cfnsi'derable lengths of tne chain will maintain a position' without material bending, and the chain may, therefore, be

passed through parts of the vehicle to encircle such parts without the necessity of reaching through other parts to grasp the introduced end of the chain. The sheath may be made ofvarious materials and, moreover, serves as a protector for finished parts of the vehicle, thus preventing marring of the vehicle, as might occur where exposed portions of the chain would otherwise come into contact with painted or varnished surfaces.

The invention will he best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the further understanding that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with Specification of L'etters Patent.

Application med September 15, 1913. Serial No. 789,932.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

the showin of the drawings, but may be changed an modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of :the invention.

In the drawingsz-l `igure 1 is an elevation of'a chain covered with a sheath of elastic material contractible upon the chain links. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a chain covered by a sheath of somewhat different material from that shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a chain 1 made up, as is customary, of numerous links of suitable size and strength Jfor the purpose. The chain may be of any appropriate length, say, two or more feet, and terminates in rings 2 designed to be cdnnected by the hasp of a padlock or any suitable part of any appropriate locking device. Between the ends of the chain `the links are inclosed in a sheath 3, as indicated in Fig. 1, cr 3 as indicated in Fig. 2. In Fig. 1 the sheath 3 is a tubular sheath which may be composed of a fabric such as rubber elastic fabric, so that he normal diameter of the sheath is less than the effective diameter of the chain, wherefore the sheath hugs the chain with more or less force and conforms to an extent to the outlines of the links. In Fig. 2 the sheath il is shown as made of a fabric having the threads interwoven in a manner which permits the tubular fabric to he more or less stretched to receive the chain, `so that. the fabric is under some expansion or tension, and consequently hugs the chain quite closely after thc chain has been introduced into the tubular sheath.

The two forms of sheath shown in the drawings may he taken as typical of any suitable sheath which will hug the chain with some compressive force, thus imparting some degree of stiffness to the chain. In practice the sheath will hold the weight of several links of the chain, so that the latter may be pushed through parts of the vehicle without collapsing, and ordinarily a sufficient length of the chain will hold its position without bending to any material extent to permit the chain to he grasped at a considerable distance from one end, and the free portion between the hand and the end of the chain passed through parts to such an extent that the free end of the chain may be readily reached by the other hand of the operator without the necessity of. introducing the hand through parts which the chain is to embrace. In this manner the chain may very readily be passed under the axle of the vehicle and from thence through the spokes of a wheel, and the two ends 'of the chain brought together to be fastened -by a padlock or other fastening device without the necessity of reaching through the wheel or under the axle. Again, the chain may be passed through, one of the vehicle springs and from thence through the adjacent wheel, the stiffness of the chain due to the shea th being sutlicient to maintain a relatively long portion of the chain in position without materially bending to permit such manipulation of thech'ain. Aside from the stiifening of the chain by the sheath, which stiffening, however, does not interfere with forcibly bending the chain at any point, the sheathv acts as a protector preventing the engagement of the metallic portion of the chain with parts of the vehicle liable to injury, the 4vehicle being generally painted or varnishedwhere it is customary to pass a locking chain. Because of the stilfening of the chain by the sheath a vehicle may be locked in far less time than is required where an unsheathed, and consequently highly flexible chain, is employed, since the chain acts similarly to a stiff, or but slightly flexible rod. The sheathed "chain, however, has `the advantage that it may be bent at any oint. p The chain though initially highly flexible has imparted lto it by the sheath a character similar to that of a stilllrope, but has the adifantage ofl far greater strength and durability. A good quality of welded link steel chain, galvanized or lacquered, answers the purpose of the present invention admirably, while a cotton or other fabric covering may be employed. l

When an all cotton flexible tubing is employ/ed as the sheath it is pulled over the chain and 'fastened at the ends to the chain.

'lhc covered chain is then putin boiling water, where it may be laid out straight for about two hours after which it is taken out and dried. This shrinks the tubing and makes it adhere very closely to the chain, thus stiticning the links, and consequently making the chain far more useful for the purposes of the inventionthan is an ordinary chain.

' lhe tubing of rubber elastic fabric is made initially of smaller Adiameter than the chain so as to hug it quite closely under the action of the rubber strands included in the fabricf while in the case of the all cotton or other fibrous sheath shrinkage may be relied upon to cause the sheath to closely hug the chain and so stiften it. In either case it is the close hugging of the chain by the inclosing sheath that causes' it to be far more stiff than an unsheathed chain, and, therefore, capable of action in the manner herein before described.

Under some circumstances it is advisable to impregnate the sheath with a waterproofallowed to remain for a suitable time, say,

for thirty minutes, after which it is removed and hung up to drain and dry. Such an arrangement allows the use of an ungalvanized or unlacquered chain, since the treated fabric sheath protects the chain and the sheath is, appropriately stilfened by the infiltration of waterproofing material, which material 1s somewhat liexible or elastic and at the same time suliiciently stiff, together with the stifl ening action. of the sheath alone, to hold a. considerable length of the chain relatively straight Iand against bending under the action of gravity.

l/Vhat is claimed is 1. A locking chain for automobiles provided with a flexible stifening sheath of a diameter normally less than the effective diameter of and 'expanded to receive the chain, whereby when contracted about the chain it will closely hug both the edges and sides of the links.

2. A locking chain for automobiles provided with a fabric sheath of normally less diameter than the effective diameter of the chain, and contracted by its normal tendency about the links of the chain into enga ement with both the edges and sides of sai links to stiften said chain. v

3. A locking chain for automobiles provided with a tubular sheath of woven fabric closely hugging the chain links in edge and si de enga gement therewith.

4. A locking chain for automobiles provided with a tubular sheath of Awoven fabric closely hugging the chain links in edge and with waterproofing material.

ln testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my. own, Iv havehereto ailixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

' VALTER J. REYNOLDS.

lVitnesses.:

ALBERT HAwns DAMrrIo, ll/IARGARET -LORINDA Ariens.

side engagement therewith and impregnated v 

